how to overclock with evga precision x gtx 660

#How to overclock with evga precision x gtx 660 for free
#How to overclock with evga precision x gtx 660 1080p
#How to overclock with evga precision x gtx 660 drivers

#How to overclock with evga precision x gtx 660 drivers

So to be as fair as possible, I've used the respective ASUS Strix models for both cards at their out-of-box overclocks.Īll benchmarks were conducted using the latest drivers from Nvidia and AMD.Īcross 9 games, we see the 960 and 285 trading blows and turning in similar numbers, with the odd exception of Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor. Why? As I mentioned, Asus massages a 9.5% factory overclock into their 960 Strix, but you can't underclock the card back to reference levels (almost but not quite) using GPU Tweak or other apps like EVGA Precision X.

Nvidia's pitching this card to replace 660 and older models, but frankly we're seeing a roughly 22% performance boost over the Kepler-based 760.ĪMD's Radeon 285 is the closest competitor to Nvidia's GTX 960 in performance and price, but making an apples-to-apples comparison is difficult. For that matter, take a look at PNY's overclocked 760 versus our 960. But more fascinating is how well the 960 performs in its factory overclocked condition compared to a reference level 770, which costs a minimum of $200 more. What we see here is that yes, the Asus Strix version of the Radeon 285 edges out the 960. In other words, judging a GPU based strictly on Fire Strike would be foolish, but it normally produces some interesting data points.

16GB Corsair Vengeance LP RAM at 1866MHzģDMark's Fire Strike is a synthetic benchmark that evaluates a system's overall graphics performance, but it's not a replacement for real-world gaming results.

I'm currently working on 1440p benchmarks as well as a 2x 960 SLI test and will publish those impressions ASAP. Read More: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 Review Part II: 1440p Benchmarks, 2-Way SLI, And Radeon 285 Showdownĭue to time constraints, please note that this review only comprises 1080p, single card benchmarks. If you're looking for a card that won't pull double duty as an unwanted space heater during the summer, you found it.

#How to overclock with evga precision x gtx 660 1080p

Considering that the peak temperature I measured was 61 degrees Celsius under full load (a Furmark 1080p stress test with a 22% overclock) that's ridiculously impressive. How does this translate to temps? In my testing the fans won't even switch on until the GPU hits 56 degrees Celsius. In the day-to-day routine, this means it's 100% silent during non-gaming activities, but what surprised me is that the fans don't even activate during less graphically intensive CPU-bound games like League of Legends - Nvidia's self-proclaimed sweet spot target demographic. The card only requires a single 6-pin PCIe power connector (the Strix version of the Radeon 285 - its closest competitor - requires two), and it runs so cool that the fans only operate after exceeding a certain temperature threshold.

#How to overclock with evga precision x gtx 660 for free

What's incredible about this GPU is how far beyond even the factory overclock you can take it, which we'll explore in a minute.Īsus already has my appreciation for their DirectCU II cooler, and throwing in a 1 Year XSplit Premium License for free adds some real value for streamers. The Strix version of the 960 is aided further by the power efficiency of Nvidia's Maxwell architecture. I'm reviewing the $209 ASUS Strix 960, which leaves the factory with a healthy 9.5% overclock above the 960's reference levels. This time around Nvidia isn't waiting for AMD to force a price drop they're hitting the ground running with an aggressive stance. The GTX 960 can be found starting at $199 for Gigabyte's mini-ITX version, and the majority of SKUs will run about $209.